Nonrefillable bottle



Feb. 14, 1939. J. w. MAUSSENET NONREFILLABLF. BOTTLE Filed April 19, 1938 INVENTOR div/1v MMAUS-SENET.

ATTORNEY Patented F eb. 14, 1939 NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE John W. Maussenet, New York, N. Y.

i il r Application April 19, 1938, Serial No. 202,830

6 Claims.

This invention pertains to closures, particularly for bottles of so-called non-refillable type.

Numerous means have been proposed to protect bottled liquids against substitution or replacement, but previous devices to be applied to the neck of a bottle sometimes have been cumbersome and expensive, sometimes fragile, and sometimes uncertain and unreliable in use.

An object of this invention is to provide closure means of simple and inexpensive nature to guard a bottle effectively against refilling, and further to prevent impairment of the quality of liquid. It is an object that a closure not only protect bottled liquid against replacement and against evaporation losses, but also assure that a bottle after opening remain uncontaminated with dust. A further purpose is to provide such a closure in form readily adaptable to differing styles of bottle. An important object also is to provide a closure which can readily be manufactured and assembled by high speed operations, but yet shall be positive and dependable in action.

The principles of this invention will be described with reference to an illustrative embodi- 5 ment which is shown in the appended drawing,

and more fully explained in the following description, with the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

In the drawing, 7 30 Fig. 1 is a section through a bottle top in upright position,

Fig. 2 is a section through an inverted bottle top, showing in elevation a guard in open position co-operating with an underlying flap valve,

35 Fig. 3 is a plan of the flap valve, as shown from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan of a seat for the flap valve, as shown from the line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a section through a bottle neck in upright position showing a modified form of this invention, with a guard in elevation shown in closed position.

The embodiment of this invention shown in the drawing is at present preferred, but without limitation thereto beyond the scope of claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a bottle neck I that is separably secured to a bottle 2, as for instance by a metal band 5 crimped over suitable shoulders on the neck and on the bottle. In the bottom of the neck is secured a flap valve 6, above which a cylindrical guard 1 extends with sliding engagement through the upper neck opening.

Below the flap valve 6, the engaging faces of the neck and the bottle are made tight by a gasket .8. Upon the gasket is interposed an annular barrier .9 containing a cross-bar, as shown in Fig. 4 and above this barrier is secured a diaphragm 6 containing flap valves as shown in Fig. 3. These three elements, diaphragm 6, gasket 8 and barrier 9 are shown clamped between the neck I and bottle 2 so that the cross bar of barrier 9 supports the flap of valve 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The diaphragm or disk 6 preferably is slit to contain two opposed semi-circular flaps 1 that meet along :a .common diameter upon the support of barrier 9, as shown in Fig. 3.

This arrangement makes it feasible to construct valve disk 6 of exceedingly thin but resilient material of inexpensive nature. For many 15 purposes this material also must be capable of withstanding the action of alcoholic liquid or vapors for considerable time. Preferably then, this diaphragm 6 is of a parchmentized paper such as has been indurated with protein material 20 and known in the trade as Patapar. This paper has been caused to absorb soya or other vegetable protein, and is tough even after standing some time in fumes of alcohol. Such a flap valve is reliable, and the flaps are of such light Weight as to open or close readily under even slight pressure. They seat evenly even though stamped or out by high-speed machinery.

Above valve disk 6 elongate cylinder 1 is mounted and constructed to perform several functions.

This cylinder 1 is closed or .capped at its top and bottom, so as to minimize any possibility of inserting an object under the flaps of valve 6. Thus the cylinder acts as .a guard. The lower cap .10 of guard 1 may be integral with the guard if desired, but the upper cap H preferably is attached, and sealed, after the guard is assembled in the bottle neck. This is so that the upper end of cylinder 1 may project above the mouth of the neck, and the upper cap ll may be of sufficiently large diameter to cover the mouth of the bottle. At an intermediate line of guard 1 is fastened a shoulder or other projection 12 to limit the outward movement of the guard. This stop 12 may be applied after the guard 1 is assembled in the neck, so that upper cap I i may be made integral with guard 1 and lower cap Ill may be attached after assembly; or, both caps may be detached and the ends of the guard be initially interchangeable. This construction thus is readily adapted for quick assembly and for replacement.

Further, guard 1 in preferred form is constructed so that caps 10 and II extend along the cylinder wall .or the cylinder wall at each end is 55 closed for a distance. This further minimizes the possibility of tampering with flap valve 6 by insertion of a wire or reed through guard I. In addition the middle wall portion of guard 1 preferably is closed, and seats snugly in the mouth of bottle neck I. This not only minimizes tampering but also strengthens the guard and serves to guide the cylinder. The walls of guard 'Iare open near this middle portion but between the middle and the end may be columnar as shown, or may be otherwise formed for additional safeguard against tampering. The cylinder is hollow, may flow out by entering the side of thecylinder, and emerging from the side. Thus the cylinder is in the form of a closed sleeve guard. .-This form not only is a safeguard, but provides such a path that liquid emerges smoothly an'd'without dissipation of dissolved gases, rather than gushing and splashing.

The arrangement of cap II is such thatv when the bottle is upright, the bottom of. guard 1 presses down circumferentially uponflap valves 6 to hold them closed. In the form shown in Fig. 1 cap I0 rests directly upon flaps 6. In this function, the enlargement of cap I0 also contributes to the difliculty of tampering with flaps 6. Stop element I2 is disposed so that, for pouring, guard 6 slides away from flaps 6 just sufficiently for liquid to emerge from the open flaps, while just sufiicient opening is exposed outside the bottle for liquidto pour. V

In a modification of this invention, shown in Fig. 5, further protection is provided against surreptitious opening of disk flaps 6. In this form, a sleeve I3 is clamped around the lower end of guard 6. Within sleeve I3 is a movable plunger block I4 which substantially fills the sleeve but is adapted to slide down easily upon disks 6 when the bottle is in upright position. Between block I4 and the bottom of guard 6 is interposed a light compression spring I5 which tends to keep block l4 down upon disk valve 6 even if the guard 6 is raised while the bottle is upright. However, when the bottleis inverted two factors combine-to free valves 6 for opening: the guard 6 moves away under gravity and also block I4 moves its weight against thelight spring I5. Thus quick action'is provided when the bottle is inverted; while when the bottle is upright, the advantages of a disk valve with its positive seating are secured and guarded.

Further, as shown in Fig. 5, there may be interposed above valve diaphragm '6, an annular member with circular upstanding walls I6 in registry with sleeve I3. 'Ihus the hinge area of flap valve 6 is strengthened and protected against rupture, and also additional protection is afforded against opening flap 6 except for pouring. Even in pouring, walls I6 lend protection to flaps 6, so that tampering with the valve is substantially impossible. V 7

Materials for construction of this invention may be selected by those skilled in this art, but the combinations of parts herein are such as to permit the use of fusible material such as glass for the guard. Or moldable resins, or hard rubber, may be used. The structure is reliable even though formed and assembled by present-day high speed operations.

In the use of this invention, the guard may be assembled in various bottle necks and may be replaced from standard parts. Ordinarily the body of a bottle would be filled with liquid, and then the assembled neck with interposed so that when the bottle is inverted, liquid gasket and valve disks clamped to the bottle. The neck may have been pre-sealed if desired.

When the bottle is opened and inverted, the sleeve guard slides slightly out of the neck to expose openings for pouring, while the pressure of liquid opens the valve flaps. Liquid flows in a tortuous path around the bottom of the guard and emerges out of the side of the projecting guard. While open, the arrangement of caps and walls at the ends of the guard protects the flap valves against ready insertion of an object. When the bottle is restored to upright position, the flap valves afford a dependable seat, which is enhanced by pressure from the guard. Guard cap II closes the bottle efiectively against entrance of dust and against escape of vapors. In this way is preserved a high degree of cleanliness andquality of liquid. This is promoted further,

and the guard is guided for dependable registry upon the valves, by the close seating of a considerable middle portion of the guard in the bottle neck.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been described, and illustrated by reference to a particular embodiment in the best mode of application now contemplated, but it is evident that other specific arrangements and adaptations of this invention may now be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A non-refillable bottle comprising a separable neck, a diaphragm secured between the body of the bottle and the neck and containing a pair of co-operating flap valves having a common opening, a sleeve guard containing a central fluid conduit with inlet and outlet openings in the side the guard being fitted to slide in the neck and in downward position to exert pressure upon the flap valves and to close the neck, and means to limit outward sliding of the cylinder.

2. A non-=refillable bottle comprising a separable neck, a diaphragm secured between the body of the bottle and the neck containing a pair of semi-circular flap valves meeting along a common opening, a support bar secured under the flaps, a hollow sleeve guard adapted to press upon the flaps and to slide snugly in the neck, the guard being closed along the middle and each end and containing inlet and outlet openings near the closed middle portion.

3. A non-refillable bottle comprising a separable neck, a diaphragm secured between the neck and'the body of the bottle and containing a pair of co-operating flap valves meeting along a common opening, an annular support containing a cross bar under the opening of the flaps, a hollow cylindrical guard filling the top of the neck, the guard being closed at each end and along the walls adjacent each end and at the middle, the guard being adapted to slide in the neck and containing openings near the middle walls to conduct liquid from the bottle with the guard in outward position, the guard being adapted in downward position to press upon the flap valves and to close the neck, and means to limit outward sliding of the cylinder to a position near the flaps when open and to expose the outlet openings for pouring liquid.

4. A non-refillable bottle comprising a separable neck, a diaphragm secured between the body of the bottle and the neck containing a pair of semi-circularflap valves, a support under the flap valves, a hollow cylindrical guard walls and a cap at each end,

containing inlet and outlet openings in its side and adapted to slide in the neck and bearing caps at each end, an open sleeve fitted over the bottom cap, a plunger freely movable in the sleeve and a light spring interposed between the plunger and the lower guard cap.

5. A non-refillable bottle comprising a separable neck, a diaphragm secured between the body of the bottle and the neck containing a pair of semi-circular flap valves, an annular member secured above the flap valve diaphragm and containing a circular wall about the valve flaps, a hollow cylindrical guard closed at its ends and. containing inlet and outlet openings in its side and adapted to slide in the neck, an open sleeve fitted over the bottom cap, and a plunger free- 1y movable in the sleeve to rest upon the flaps, the sleeve being constructed to register with the circular wall about the flap valve for protection against tampering.

6. A bottle closure comprising a neck, a diaphragm secured near the bottom of the neck and containing a pair of co-operating flap valves having a common opening, a sleeve guard containing a central fluid conduit with inlet and outlet openings in the side walls and a cap at each end, the guard being fitted to slide in the neck and in downward position to press down upon the flap valves and to close the neck, and means to limit outward sliding of the cylinder.

JOHN W. MAUSSENET. 

